Fields of the Nephilim
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Wikipedia-Article "Fields of the Nephilim"
Fields of the Nephilim is a Gothic rock band, active throughout the 1980s. They formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 1984. Carl McCoy, Gary Whisker, Tony Pettit and Paul and Nod Wright were the starting lineup, and Peter Yates joined by the time of their first release.
The band's name refers to (magnetic) fields and the biblical Nephilim race.
Their sound was innovative in the gothic scene, incorporating heavy metal elements to make a hard, bass and guitar driven sound underneath McCoy's growly, doom metal-esque vocals.
Lyrically, they incorporated mystical themes, epecially relating to The Cthulhu Mythos, Sumerian Mythology, and Aleister Crowley.
Their debut release the "Burning the Fields" EP was released in 1985 showing the raw power and melody that began to earn them a big underground following. They signed to Beggars Banquet Records in 1986 (1986 in music) to release "Power" and "Preacher Man". Both singles were alternative rock hits, and Dawnrazor (1987 in music), their debut album did similarly well. 'Dawnrazor' was a powerful, albeit standard Gothic rock collection of modern horror-film themed songs, standout songs were 'Dust' - a live favourite, 'Vet for the Insane' a quieter melodic showcase for Yates' guitar and McCoy's dramatic gruff vocals, and the tremendously powerful ten minute title-track.
The single 'Blue Water' was subsequently released reaching the main UK charts for the first time, and making a big impact on the Independent chart listings for their label Situation Two. The following year the single "Moonchild" was released followed by their assured second album "The Nephilim". Displaying a more confident and polished sound, the band cemented their status as one of the biggest underground acts on the circuit. The standout tracks were "The Watchman" (later released as a single), "Phobia" (a live favourite), "Love under will" and the anthemic "Last exit for the lost". The following live dates with the more spohisticated light show and effcts, and of course the larger venues, highlighted their inexorable rise in popularity and so confidence.
"Psychonaut" was released in 1989; this ten minute track indicated a slight shift for the band toward a more experimental and intense sound. This single/EP was a candle-bearer for the polished and highly produced Elizium (1990 in music) album. Produced for the first time by ex-Pink Floyd producer Andy Jackson (taking over from previous band producer Bill Buchanan), the opus represented the band at the zenith of their creativity and powers. The album was preceded by the single "For her light" which again followed the bands custom of charting highly one week courtesy of their army of followers, then dipping out of the chart listings the next.
To the shock of their following, Carl McCoy left the band in 1991 (1991 in music), and in a subsequent interview uttered the immortal words "I am the Nephilim...". The remaining band members formed Rubicon, while McCoy began a new group called Nefilim. "Zoon was released in 1996, an album that largely disappointed followers of his former band. The collection of mostly hard metal and speed-metal tracks pointed in a new direction, but one that ultimately still awaits a follow-up.
The band reformed in the late 1990's, the collection of out-takes and assorted unreleased recordings "Fallen" was released in 2002 exciting many of the followers who had grown used to reading about imminent new material, but then disappointed as the tracks were definitely not new material, and the subsequent album has been disowned by the band who insist that the album was released by their old record label without their wishes or permission.
Live dates pencilled in were cancelled in 2003 as the band insist they will only tour with new material, refusing to join the other bands of their generation touring to old audiences playing old material. The anticipation amongst their following - The Watchmen, grew awaiting new material, taking their individual and intense sound and lyrics to new spaces and dimensions.
A new Album Mourning Sun was released in Europe on November 28, 2005, with the North American release scheduled January 6, 2006. The hitherto hinted at reformed line-up hadn't materialised, but the Carl McCoy led and penned collection of new material certainly met expectations.
Simplistically a collage of "Elizium" and "Zoon", this collection of material was far more restrained than the sheer metal of many of the "Zoon" tracks, but with a harder edge than "Elizium". The seven songs (the eighth track is a bonus track; the cover-version of "In the year 2525 is to be present on only the first 25,000 copies) show deep, dense production and extensive and exemplary musicianship. The backing musicians haven't been named to date, but rumour grows that original band bassist - Tony Pettit has joined Carl McCoy as one of the 'ghost' musicians on the album. From the lustrous atmospherics of the first track "Shroud", to the loud crunching guitars of "Xiberia" the album never fails to interest and at times thoroughly excite.
Live dates are also planned for 2006, in the words of the website (www.thefieldsofthenephilim.com) "a series of key note and rather prestigious concerts are planned around the globe". The long near fifteen year wait from the loyal following of The Fields of the Nephilim for new material has bore positive fruit, and The Watchmen collectively can only look forward to and welcome this New Gold Dawn.
Contents |
Discography
Singles
- Power, 1986
- Preacher Man, 1987
- Blue Water, 1987
- Moonchild, 1988
- Psychonaut, 1989
- For Her Light, 1990
- Sumerland, 1990
- One More Nightmare (Trees Come Down A.D.), 2000
- From The Fire, 2002
EPs
- Burning The Fields, 1985
- Returning To Gehenna, 1986 (compilation)
Albums
- Dawnrazor, 1986
- The Nephilim, 1988
- BBC Radio 1 - Live in Concert, 1988
- Elizium, 1990
- Earth Inferno, 1991 (live)
- Laura, 1991 (compilation)
- Revelations, 1993 (compilation)
- From Gehenna To Here, 2001 (compilation)
- Fallen, 2002 ( unofficial demos )
- Mourning Sun, 2005
Videos
- Forever Remain, 1988 (live)
- Morphic Fields, 1989
- Visionary Heads, 1991 (live)
- Revelations, 1993
